Hurricane Katrina Wreaks Havoc on Boating Community in Miami, FL
Boaters were 'not ready' for the Category 1 hurricane as it hit Miami, FL on Thursday, Aug. 25.

By Compiled by staff reports
Posted Sunday, August 28, 2005

 
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Reports coming in from Dinner Key Marina tell the same story. 'We just weren't ready for this,' said one boater who listened to weather reports which emphasized lots of rain, but not a lot of wind.

As a result of lack of preparation, many of the boats in Dinner Key Anchorage dragged their anchors, and many are washed ashore on the spoil islands. A big pile up of boats appeared at the Dinner Key (Seminole) Boat Ramps where over 12 sailboats of all sizes, primarily from the Coconut Grove Sailing Club moorings, washed ashore on the rocks there. Seminole Dock, where anchorage boats leave their dinghies, also suffered damages and lots of the dinghies are under water.

Photos of Dinner Key Marina boat damage done by Hurricane Katrina - Miami, FL

The boat ramps at Dinner Key were not accessible Saturday or Sunday due to the fact that local towing companies were using the docks to commandeer the clean up effort there, and a large sailboat was laying across at least two of the boat ramps, tossed there by the wind and waves (see photos). Flooding also has caused the police to cordon off the exit to the ramps, making it difficult to manuever large vehicles or vehicles towing boats in the boat ramp parking and staging areas.

Two fatalities have been confirmed in the Dinner Key Marina area, one where a man, Curtis L. Howse, 67, was found dead inside one of the sailboats that washed ashore at the Seminole Docks Boat Ramps. The second fatality occured when a houseboat flipped over, trapping the victim, John Nye, 61, inside.

Thankfully, most of the boats docked in Dinner Key Marina fared well. The marina staff say that the marina itself is fine with no problems. At a condo across from Grove Isle Marina in Coconut Grove, FL several powerboats were sunk at the dock.

Three boats moored at the Venetian Causeway yacht basin drug anchor and washed up agains the Venetian Causeway bridge, sinking at least one, and damaging the others. Sailboat masts and torn, flapping sails were partially blocking lanes on the Venetian Causeway.

Some yachts docked at a marina in Aventura suffered damage when a canopy landed on them.

On Key Biscayne the waterfront restaurant Sundays by the Bay located at the foot of Crandon Marina had its roof ripped off. Some of the boats at the adjacent marina came loose from their moorings and piled up with minor damages.

Several houseboats at North Bay Village on the 79th St. Causeway were pretty damaged, although not all of them. Aerial shots of Miami Marine Stadium showed a bunch of sailboats anchored there that dragged and were damaged, some landing on spoil islands, others sunk. Some of the larger sailboats made it though.

The Coast Guard reported a family of five was missing after departing from Marathon on their 24ft boat headed for Ft. Myers/Cape Coral on Thursday. Searches have been made for the vessel "Sea Note" which has a crew of Ed and Tina Larson and their three children aged 16, 13 and four. As of 3:30 pm on Friday the vessel and crew have been found, although no further details are available yet.